From the Editor: October 2025

I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again: We Catholics are great at celebrating. Our annual celebrations have a rhythm to them, as we mark the solemnities and feasts that help teach and enliven the faith—moments in the life of our Lord, saints’ days, dedications and commemorations of churches, etc.

But occasionally, we enter a year that causes the tempo of our annual rhythm of celebrations to kick up a notch—and 2025 is one such year! Of course, we’re celebrating the Jubilee of Hope, which was declared by the late Pope Francis at the end of 2024. But did you know that it is also the 1700^th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea? The council was convened in 325 A.D., and it wound up producing the Nicaean Creed, which we still pray today to affirm our beliefs. It is also the 800^th anniversary of Saint Francis of Assisi’s Canticle of the Sun, which was written in 1225 A.D. and served as a source of inspiration for Pope Francis. This year also marks the 100^th anniversary of the feast of Christ the King, as Pope Pius XI instituted it in 1925 to emphasize to the world in the pre-World-War-II era that Christ is our true king—and should be placed above all earthly rulers. This year, we even have some solemnities that take precedence over the normal Sunday observance of Ordinary Time—in fact, next month, All Souls will be celebrated on Sunday, November 2, and the dedication of the Lateran Basilica will be on Sunday, November 9.

If you’ve been wondering why you may have been hearing so much about the Sacred Heart of Jesus lately, it is because it is the 350^th anniversary of the apparitions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque (learn more in the Faith Fact on page 32). Our very own Bishop Bonnar recognized this important anniversary by releasing his pastoral letter, Take Heart! Do Not Lose Heart! Behold the Sacred Heart! (read excerpts on page 14), and by instituting a diocesan-wide enthronement to the Sacred Heart in parishes on Sunday, September 28.

Locally, we have loads to celebrate in 2025, too! This year marks the silver, gold and diamond jubilees of six priests, three permanent deacons and 44 religious sisters, plus priest retirements and a special anniversary at St. Joseph Parish in Maximo—and more! You can read about these celebrations on page 19, and you’ll also want to read Father William Wainio’s column on vocations (page 24), as The Echo celebrates diocesan vocations this month.

Thanks for celebrating with us!

Until next month,

Katie Wagner